Page 25 of Christmas with Hope

“But now you do?” I replied to his question with a slight nod. “Because of me?”

There was a look in his eyes that I couldn’t quite place. It looked like a cross between curiosity and worry. Now, I needed to put him out of his misery.

“Yes. Because of you.” My gaze fell down to the floor and my cheeks felt like they were on fire. It was absolutely embarrassing to admit it to Colton.

Colton slipped a finger under my chin. He lifted my head so that I was looking at him. He was smiling ear to ear.

“There’s nothing wrong with happily-ever-afters, Hope. Especially when you deserve one.” His words were soft and pulled at the emotions inside me.

“I don’t know about that,” I sighed.

My eyes were locked on his. I wanted to look everywhere but him; however, as though I was in a trance, I couldn’t stop looking at him.

“Hope,” he chuckled,” I can tell you want to look elsewhere.”

“No. I don’t.” Definitely was lying through my teeth. Colton shook his head and laughed.

“You’re not a very good liar, sweetheart,” he kissed me gently. “Do you believe in fate?”

Fate? Did I believe in fate? I always said how everything happened for a reason so…

“Yes. I believe in fate,” I nodded.

“Well,” Colton smiled, “sometimes fate works in mysterious ways. This time it worked its magic through Stefanie and Tim.”

“Nosey asses.”

“Well, I’m thankful for thosenosey asses,” Colton’s words were teasing. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be having Christmas with Hope.”

“You made that weird,” I laughed.

“Why?” he smiled and rubbed my cheek. “It’s true. Your name is Hope and I have hope that we will walk away from here as more than friends.”

“More than friends?” I repeated softly. He smiled and kissed me again.

“We still have a few more days before our vacation is over. At the end of it…” His words trailed to almost no sound. My stomach knotted with worry. He had spoken with confidence up until that moment.

“At the end?” I prompted him.

He nodded as though he had come up with an answer in his mind. He then stood tall and looked down at me.

“Hope, at the end of our vacation, I’m going to ask you to be my girlfriend. It won’t be easy at first if you say yes since we live in different places. But we’ll find a way to make it work. I promise,” he said firmly.

“Girlfriend?” I asked like an idiot. He had clearly saidgirlfriend.

“Yes,” he kissed my forehead, sending warmth throughout me.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned against him. He held me tight, which I was glad because now he could see my face or the huge smile on it.

“Why me?” My question came out of my mouth before I even realized I had thought the question.

“I know a good thing when I see it, Hope.” Colton kissed the top of my head. “And you’re definitely a good thing.”

Chapter Eleven

Two days had passed. Each of those days had felt like a page out of a fairytale orgirlyromance novel. Colton and I spent almost every minute together.

“Want me to carry those? I can help. I’m not weak, you know?” I said, walking beside Colton through the snow. He had a pile of wood in his arms.

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